Stony Creek: On the dawn before winter

The images below are an addendum to the published hiking column on the "Blue Trail" of Stony Creek Metropark that appears in the Sunday December 13 Oakland Press. That column can be found at http://www.theoaklandpress.com/. Type my name (Jonathan Schechter) into search box and all previous published hiking columns also appear.

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Dress for the weather with good foot gear and you are good to go!

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This sign is a warning to cross county skiers and mountain bikers of a steep twisting descent.

Some trees are padded along the trail. Most are not.

These are multi use trails shared by hikers, mountain bikers and cross country skiers. No horses or snowmachines!

A powerful storm swept through the park in August of 2010 snapping many oaks.

Pay attention to trailhead maps---have a plan! And if you bring a dog leashed is the law.

Most trail juntions have indicators showing your location and a small map.

Keep an eye on the summer storm "damage"( nature does not use the word damage), good places to see woodpeckers and chickadees.

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About Me

Jonathan Schechter, a naturalist and resident of Brandon Township with a passion for outdoor adventure and severe weather events writes a weekly hiking column for the Oakland Press. He lives on 11 acres with a rich mix of wildlife, meadows, woods and wetlands. He has a Master of Science Degree in Forest Resources from the U. of Washington and is an active member of the Wilderness Medical Society certified in Advanced Wilderness Life Support. His writings and nature photos reveal ways humans are subtly yet dynamically altering the behavior of wildlife leading to a corruption of nature's way and wildlife behavior. Join his Earth Almanac blog as Jonathan shares thoughts on our natural world in Oakland County and beyond.